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Charlie Bair shots a three against NPU Feb. 12, 2021
Nick Helten
55
North Park NPU 2-11,2-10 CCIW
75
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 6-0,5-0 CCIW
North Park NPU
2-11,2-10 CCIW
55
Final
75
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
6-0,5-0 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
North Park NPU 24 31 55
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 32 43 75

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Hoops Pushes Past NPU in CCIW Quarterfinals

Leritz, Bair record double-doubles

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The eighth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team bounced North Park University from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament with a 75-55 victory inside the Shirk Center Saturday afternoon, March 6. The Titans, who led from start to finish, upped their record to 6-1, while the Vikings finished the season at 2-11 overall.

Illinois Wesleyan was fueled by the play of its big men, as junior Matthew Leritz (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis University) and senior Charlie Bair (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard North) each posted double-doubles. Lertiz's came way of 23 points and 16 rebounds, both of which were game-highs, while Bair added 11 points and 12 boards. 

Joining the post duo in double-digit points were junior Peter Lambesis (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-St. Viator) and sophomore Luke Yoder (Normal, Ill.-Central Catholic), who added 13 and 11 points, respectively. Yoder also dished out six assists.

As a team the Titans went 29-for-58 from the floor, converted 5-of-18 three-point attempts, and finished 12-for-18 at the free throw line. IWU held NPU to 21-for-63 from the floor (33.3 percent), but the Vikings hit seven three-pointers. North Park made just eight trips to the free throw line, converting six.

Powered by Leritz and Bair, Illinois Wesleyan held a 42-31 rebounding edge and dominated the paint, 46-24. 

A low scoring first-half saw the Titans open the game on a 5-0 run, capped by a Yoder floater in transition four minutes in.

The Vikings pulled within two, 9-7, on a three-pointer by Toby Marek with 13:48 to go in the period. IWU responded with back-to-back buckets by Yoder and Lambesis pushed the Titans ahead 13-7.

Illinois Wesleyan increased its cushion to eight points at the break, going to the locker room in front 32-24.

The Green and White never looked back in the second half, quickly extending the lead to double digits on Yoder's layup off a Bair block.

IWU's strong second half continued as Yoder kicked out to Leritz for a three to give the Titans a 41-26 advantage and force a NPU timeout. 

The reset did little to halt Illinois Wesleyan's momentum as a Leritz dunk put IWU in front 69-51 with 2:09 to go.

Freshmen Evan Schneider (St. Louis, Mo.-Ladue) and Connor Heaton (Moweaqua, Ill.-Central A&M) added two points apiece in the final 1:13 to close out the 75-55 win.

The second-seeded Titans will host the third-seeded Bluejays of Elmhurst University in the CCIW Semifinals Tuesday, March 9. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside the Shirk Center.

 
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